CBS boss: We tried to keep Cote de Pablo on 'NCIS'

Responding to outraged "NCIS" fans, CBS CEO Les Moonves said Monday that the network did everything it could to keep actress Cote de Pablo from leaving television's No. 1-rated drama.

"We offered Cote de Pablo a lot of money. And then we offered her even more money," Moonves told reporters at the TV critics press tour. "We really didn't want to lose her. We love her. We think she's terrific."

News of de Pablo's imminent exit came on July 10, just days before "NCIS" began production on its upcoming season. Since then, fans have bombarded CBS and TV critics with emails complaining, essentially, that CBS did not do enough to keep the actress who plays Ziva on the show.

But Moonves flatly rejected that mindset.

"We obviously were in discussions," he said. ". ... Ultimately, she decided she didn't want to do the show. It purely was her decision. We don't like losing anybody. We did everything humanly possible. We exhausted every possibility."

"NCIS" kicks off its 11th season on Sept. 24. De Pablo will return for a few episodes to wrap up Ziva's storyline.